NEW DELHI– Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has returned to the country after nearly four months abroad, ahead of Team India’s departure for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against Australia beginning Sunday.
Kohli, who recently celebrated his first Indian Premier League title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, spent the off-season in London with his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, and their two children. He will link up with the national squad in Delhi before the team departs for Perth on Wednesday.
Having retired from Tests and T20 internationals, Kohli was named in India’s ODI lineup for the three-match series — his first appearance in the national colors since the Champions Trophy victory in March. The 36-year-old will play under newly appointed ODI captain Shubman Gill, who succeeds Rohit Sharma.
Rohit, 38, has also stepped away from Tests and T20Is but will rejoin the national setup for this series after a six-month hiatus.
India’s white-ball tour opens with the first ODI on October 19 at Perth Stadium, followed by matches at Adelaide Oval on October 23 and the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25. The sides will then contest a five-match T20I series starting October 29.
India last toured Australia for a bilateral ODI series in 2020–21, losing 2–1 but bouncing back to claim the T20I series by the same margin.
With the next ODI World Cup still two years away, the performances of Kohli and Rohit will be closely watched. Both have struggled to maintain their peak form in recent seasons. Former India coach Ravi Shastri said the upcoming series could prove decisive for their World Cup aspirations.
“The Australia ODIs will be a crucial test for both Kohli and Rohit,” Shastri said. “They need a strong series to reaffirm their places and push for one more World Cup appearance in 2027.” (Source: IANS)
